Automatic gear-shift control.



1. s. ALsPAum AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3. 19H.

Batented Feb. 19. 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

/V/IL IQ. wwk XMS IQ m A ,\\Q\\\\ \\\r\\\ \.W\ j, A Q/ m.\/ UVW mmm am II VIII ,uw S KIQ mm w MN FMX,

WI www freno .Staten residing at Portsmouth, in

county of Scioto and Siate of Ohio, have 1nmach JAMES SHELLENBARGERALSPAUGH, or PORTSMOUTH, onio.

AUTOMATIC GEAR'SHIFT CONTROL.

Application illed March 3, 1917.

1 'o all who/11. it -m'j/ Once/1%: l

Be it known that l. JAMns SilnLLnNnAnom: ALsrAuoin u citizen of theUnited the vented a new and useful Automatic Gear- Shift Control, oiwhich the following 1S a specification.4

The present invention has for its object the provision oi un automaticcontrolling device for shifting the gears of a. transmission mechanismol an automobile ,or other nmchine, although useful for various olherlun-poses, the construction being such rh-.it tho transmission nwchanismor the like is operated by the operation oli'a foot pedal or otheropemtiugiF member in connection with electro-magnets or theirequivalents, whereby the repeated omer-ation of the operating member canbe made. through the energization of the elcctro'magnets, to change vthespeed progressively, or to reverse the ine.

A further object of the invention is the provisionin a controllingdevice of the nature indicated,oijl novel mechanical Inoveinents, toenhance the utility and eiiiciency of the device.

Another object of the invention is the vprovision of novel means foralteri'iately moving one member, first in one direction by the completeforward and backward movement of anotller member, and then in theopposite direction b v the complete torwarrd and backward movement ofthe second mentioned member, .in order .that the first nientioned.-member is moved alternately in opposite directions dui-mg the movementof the: second mentioned member in the same direction during its forwardand back l -ward movements.

A still further object of the invention is the provision vof novel meansunder the. control of Aelectro-magnets or the like, for Imovi-ng aplurality' of members in different directions by .the movement ofanother member, there .being novel means for con- `neet-ing the firstand second mentioned proceeds, the-"inventioi'i resides in thecominzition and a-rrungemeI'it of parts and in thev"details-0 1?`.construct10l'- hereinafter described :and claimed, it `being understoodSpecification of Lette-rs Patent.

. Patented Feb. 19, 191,8.

Serial No. 152,377.

that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein.disclosed, can be made Within the scope of What is claimed, with outdeparting from the spiritof the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, Wherein:-

Figure 1 is a plan view of the-device'.` Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection taken on the line 2 2 of Fig." 1.

Fig 3 is a bottom view,.portions being shown in section.

Figa is a cross sectio'n taken on the line 4 4'01 Fig. 1, showing theparts in neutral or intermediate position.

lr ig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail taken on the line 5 5 ofFig. 1. Y

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a suitable frame 1,-Which is of rectangular form as illustrated, and which is provided withthe parallel longitudinal hars 2. 34 and 4 extending from `one end to`the other. longitudinally through the ends of the fra-me at one side ofthe bar 2. A pair of longi-V tudinal actua-ted rods 8 and 9 is slidablethrough the ends kof the frame at the 0pposite sides of the bar si, andthe invention embodies a special operative connection loe- A tween therod 5 and the rods 8 and 9 for operating the latter h v the operation ofthel former. The rod 5 can be operated by a foot pedal or other suitableoperating meinber (not shown) connected thereto, to move the rod 5toward the left, as seen in Fig. l, against the tension of the spring 6which moves the rod 5 in the other direction when the rod is'released.,The sprin 6- can be disposed between one end of t e frame 1 'and a. pin7 engaging the rod 5. The rods 8 and 9 can be connected to thetransmission mechanism (not shown) or other suitable appliance forcontrolling the same. For example, one `of the rods I'Sw-9, which arenormally in intermediate ositio when moved in one direction Wild) ro idefirst or low speed, and when move posite direction from intermediateposition will provide' for reversed motion, While the other rod in beingmoved in. opposite directions will provide second or intermediate speedand third or high speed, so that hy reciprocating the rods 8 and 9. 1nopposite directions from their neutral osition', the transmissionlilec'hanisxn can )be con'- trolle'd.'

in the op- An actuating rod 5 is slidable iio An oscillatory disk 10 ismounted between the bars 2 and 3 upon .a pivot pin 11 engagedthroughsaid bars and disk, and' is operatively connected with thereciproe catory rod 5, whereby the reciprocation of said rod imparts anoscillatory movement to the disk. Thus, the rod 5 is provided with atransverse slot 12 engaging a in or lug 13 extending from the face o.the disk 'across which the rod 5 extends.

A reciprocatory slide 14 is actuated by the disk 10, and is movablelongitudinally within the frame between the bars 3 and 4, said slidehaving a longitudinal groove 15 receiving the bar 3, and having alongitudinal rib 16 slidable between the rods 8 and 9, whereby to guidethe slide for longitudinal overnent. This slide 14 carries means fornnecting it to either of the rods 8 and 9, Iand for this purpose, theslide 14 has a transverse channel or slot 17 in which a transverseclutch bar 18 is slidable. 4TheV clutch bar 18 is provided with a lug 19rojecting between the rods 8 and 9 to a ternately engage'notches 20 and21 with which the respective rods 8 and 9 are provided. The lugs-19 hasa pin or stud 22 projecting therefrom. When the bar 18 is moved in onedirection the lug 19 is adapted t0.A enter the notch 2O to cause the rodSto move with the slide 14, and when the bar 18 is moved. in the otherdirection, `the lug 19 enters the .notch 21 sothat the rod i) will Amovewith the slide.

As a means for movlng the bar 18 in one direction or the other, said baris provided adjacent to its ends with armatures 28 and 24 movable ipastelectromagnets 25 and 26,

respectively, carried 'by the sides of the 20 and l frame. Thus, whenthe slide 14 is reciprocated, the armatures are carried past the polesof the magnets in order that when,l

14 has its free end connected with the barV A18 to move said 'bar tointermediate posi- `tion Iwhen the electro-magnets are 4dener- `gized.`A Thisspring tends -to move the bar so that ith 1u 1' will movepast thenotches 18 to an? hold it atintermediate' positionV I 4wi oit enga i.them when the might i* are dener 'ze s neans 'for' 'olding i aideolv-the other after being; moved ward oi by one'niagnet, pairs oflongitudinal railsA mediate portions of the bar 18 27-28 and 29-30arecarried by the bar 4. y

The rails 'of each pair are disposed side by side and the adjacent endsof the rails of the two pairs are spaced apart. The pin 22 normallymoves between the rails of the two pairs when the bar 18 is inintermediate osition. When the rods 8 and 9 are in intermediateposition, their notches 2O and 21 are at opposite sides of the space between the adjacent ends of the rails 27-28 and 29-30, and the magnets 25and 26 are on the transverse line of the notches 20 and 21 when inintermediate position. Thus, es the slide 14 is moved, the bar 18 whenbrought between the magnets, will bring the lug 19 between the notches20-21 to engage either of them, and the pin 22 will also be between theadjacent ends of the two pairs of rails, thus enabling the bar 18 to bemoved in either direction by one mag net or the other, but if themagnets are both dener -zed, the bar 18 will remain in in forward, dueto the operative connection between the disk l0 and slide or plate 14.Thus, ,the slide 14 is provided adjacent to its opposite side edges withtransverse recesses 31 and 32, each having a square shoulder 33 and an'opposite beveled vsurface 34, said shoulders and surfaces of the tworecesses being in reversed position. The slide 14 has leaf springs 35embedded therein, with their ends seated within the slide, and saidslide has recess 36 at those sides of the interthe springs opposite tothe recesses SlT-32.4 The springs 35 extend across. the outer ends oflthe recesses Blf-32 Yand are adaptedt'be sprung or bowed into therecesses 36 away from .the recesses 31--32 A ,pair of latches orfla-tch'pins 3738 is carried b the disk 10 at diametri- `cally oppositepontsthereo said latches being slidablevwithin cup-shaped guides 39threaddly o"v t vlrwise engaged-with the disk 1 and expanslpn springs 40are conne'd within thev guides 39 to project the l latches against theslide 14.

The latches 37 and 38 are adapted to snap? alternately into the recesses81 and 82,' respectively, as the disk 10 4is oscillated and,undercertain corn-4 ditions the latches Il37--38 slide over thewithtlparts arranged as shown in l pedal or4 operating member toward theleft, this will move the latch 37 toward the right and the latch 38toward the left. The latch 37 Will ride-up the beveled surface 34 of-the recess'31 onto the face of the slide 14 withut moving said slidewith the latch 37,

, while the latch 38 which bears against the cess 32 slide will be movedtowardfthe recess 32 and when the movement of the rod and disk l() inthe,,correspondingr direction is completed, the latch 3S will springrinto the reheliind the Shoulder 33 thereof.

i Then, when the rod\5 is released so as to f be moved under theinfluence of the springr vright with the latch 3S.

i rod .5, whereas moved toward the The slide 14 is thus the return4movement of the it did not move when the rod 5 was moved against thetension ot' the spring 6 toward the left. Diiiingthe movelatch 3S andslide 14 toward the 6,- the slide 14 will be moved during right, .the4latch 3S pressing againstthc rethe left as the spring 35'of recess 31moves toward the right, will cause the latch '37 spective springr 35will bow itoutivarilly as the lparts pass intermediate position. whilethe latch 37 which is moving toward 1. When the rod 5 is moved to theleft the vto second time, the latch 3,7 will `move up the beveledsurface 34- of the recess 3-2'and onto the face oi the slide 14 withoutmovingthe slide 14 to tlieleft with the latch 38, and the latch 37 willbe moved toward the right `and will snap into the recessv 31. N'ow,when`the rod 5 is released and moved hy the s ring 6, the slide 14 'will bemoved toward tiie left with the latch 37 to the position seen in Fil,and during the movement of the latcY 38 toward the right it will slideover the spring' 35 in recess 32, to prevent the latch 38 from enteringsaid recess 3 2 as they pass eachother'. The cycle of movements ot thedisk 10- and slide 14 `is thus completed, it being noted tliat ivlienthe rod 5 is moved against the tension of i theispring, one latch isremoved from onel recess of the slide and the other latch is` moved intothe other recess of the slide, to Carry the slide with it during thereturn movement of the disk 10 androd. 5, the op-v eration beingreversed during the next hackv Thus,l

and fortli'movement of the rod 5. when the rod 5 is'vmovedthe first timeby the spring 6, the slide 14 is moved in one direction,I andduring thenext movement of the rod by the spring 6, the slide 14 isv moved in theoppositevvdrection, the direction of movement of the slide 14alternating duringF4 tin` successive movements of the rod 5 in the samedirection hy the springi 6.

ln operation. supposingr that it is desired to-tirst move the rod 8toward the lett. as sccn in Fig. '3, to provid(` iii-st or low speed. tothen niove thel i'od t) in one direction to 'provide second orintermediate speed, aiid to4 then operate the rod '9 in the oppositi`direi'- `tion to provide third or high speed. thc rod 5 is moved againstthe tension of the spring; G and is then released. causing,V the slide.14 to he moved toward thi` lct't. as seen in Fig. tl. ln thc meantime.thc magnet is ener gized by closing thc circuit thereof` (not shown), aswill lic readily understood, und

- as the slide 14 moves past intermediate position, the magnet 25 `willattract the arma# ture 23 and `move the clutch liar 1S toward the magnet25. 'llie lug 1S) therefore enters the notch 20, and the pin 22 isbrought to the outer side o1 thc rail 29. and as the slide 14 completesits movement. th(` ,pin 22 will slide along the outcr'sidc of thc rail29. thereby preventing thc har 1S from returning1 to intermediateposition under the iniiueiice of the spring 26', after the armature .23has moved past theI n'iagnet. This holds the har 18 iii engagement withthe lrod'S during the time that the parts are beyond iiitermeaiiateposition, and the rod 8 will naturally move with the slide 14. 'lhe rodS is therefore moved toward thelett` from intermediate position. The'next time` the y rod 5 is moved hack and forth. the Aslide 14. is movedtoward the right, as seen in 1F ig. 3, therebyv ,cariving the rod 8towardthe right-in intermediate position. The magnet j 25 beingdeiiieigized will result.i1i the hai' 118 iiioving;F to intermediateposition, since the pin 22 can now move past the end ofthc rail 29'to apoint on a line intermediate thc rails, the lug' 19 therefore beingremoved from the notch 20 to let the rodS stand at intermediateposition. Now, iflthe magnet 26 energized, during;` the movement of thed slide 14 toward the right, the har 18 will not.

onlv he moved to intermediate position, but

will he moved farther by the attraction of the arniatiire Z4 to themagnet 9.6, and the` lng 19 will therefore heinoved into the notch 2lyto carryr the rod 9 toward thei'ight with thc'slide 14, the pin 22being moved or slid along: the other side of'the rail 2S to hold the bar18 in engagement i,with the i-od 9 after the arii'iatiirc 24 has passedthe magnet 2G.

During' the next haclward 'and t'orwai'd movement of the rod 5, theslide 14 will move `toward the left, and if the magnet 26 is energized,it will attract thc ariiiatnre24 to preveiitthe bar 1S returningto'intermediate positionas the slide moves past interi'iied'iatcposition, and thelug 19 will therefore he retaiiied in ciigzgenicnt with'the mitch 21, the pin 22 heilig moved aci-oss the space'beand forth,and latches carried by one mem- ,.f

tween the rails 28 and 30 a ainst the outery side of the rail 30. Thero' 9 is therefore not only moved toward the left to intermediateposition, but is moved to the left from intermediate position. By againoperating the rod 5, to move the slide 14. toward the right, with the 1rgnet 26 denergized, the bar 18 will return to normal position .when theslide passes intermediate osition, the parte being restored to theposition seen in Ai .3. Iaving thus described the invention, what isclaimed as new is 1. A deviceof the character described, embodying twomembers each movable back lber and movable in opposite directions rela"tively to the other member, the last mentioned member having means forthe enga ement of said latches alternately during xe successivemovements of the first mentioned member in the same direction and forpreventing the engagement of the latches during the movement ofthe firstmentioned member in the other direction.

2. A device `of the characterdescribed, em-

i bodying two members, one mounted for oscillation and the other forreci rocation,

latches carried by one member an movable in opposite directionsrelatively to the other member, the last mentioned member hafvinshoulders for the alternate engagement -o the latches during thesuccessive movements of the latch carrying member in the same direction,having `beveled surfaces ""for disengaging the latches when moved awayfrom the shoulders, and having means for preventing the latches engagingthe shoulders during the movement of the latch carrying member in theother direction.

3. A device of the character described embodying an oscillatory member,a reciprocatory member having recesses each having a. shoulder and anopposite beveled surface, the shoulders and beveled surfaces of the ,tworecesses being reversed, latches carried by-the oscillatory member tosnap into said recesses, and means for preventing the movethe recesses.pnt the character described em- 5. A device of bodying a member movableback and forth and normally in intermediate position, a seeond membermovable back and forth past intermediate position, means carried by onememberto enga e'the other when the second tioned member normally 1nreleased position and enga 4cable with the first mentioned member w enthe second mentioned member moves past intermediate' position, andelectro-magnetic means for moving said clutch member into enga ment withthe first mentioned member w en' the second mentioned member moves. astintermediate positionrl 7. A device o the character described embodyinga member movable back and lforth and normally in intermediate position asec ond member movable back and forth. past intermediate position, aclutch member carried by the second mentioned member to engage the i'stmentioned member lwhen 'the second mentioned member moves pastintermediate sition, sprin means tending to release the)I clutch mem rfrom the rst mentioned-"member, means for movingthe clutch'member intoengagement with the first mentioned member, and means `for retainin theclutclivmember-in engagement with t e first mentioned member when thefirst mentioned member isjout of intermediate position.

8. A device ofthe character described embodying a member movable backand forth and normally in intermediate position, a second member movableback and forth past intermediate position, a clutch member carf riad bythe second member to engage the first mentioned member when the secondmentioned member moves past intermediate position, means tending to movethe clutch member out of engagement with the first mentioned member,electro-magnetic means `for movin the clutch member into engagement withtge first mentioned member, and means forretainin the clutch member inengagement with t e first mentioned member when it is out ofintermediate position;

v. 9. A device of the character ddscribed,emv

\ bodying a member movable baclr and forth and normally in intermediate]osition, a sel-f ond member movable back an forth past intermediateposition, a clutch member carried b the Vsecond mentioned member andmovaigle Iinto engagement with -the first mentioned member whenthevsecond mentioned member moves past intermediate position,-

spring means for moving the clutch member away from the first mentionedmember, an electro-magnet, an armature carried by the clutch membermovable past the electro-mag- .net vwhen the second mentioned membermoves past intermediate osition, the arma ture when attracted by t emagnet serving to move the clutch member into engagement with the firstmentioned" member, and rails -extending from an intermediate position,

' forth past intermediate position, a lclutch member carried bythe thirdmember normally in released position to alternately engage said pair ofmembers when the third member moves past intermediate position, andelectro-magnetic means operable for moving the clutch memberin onedirection or the other as the third member moves past intermediateposition.

11. A device of the character described,

I embodying a pair of members movable'back y gagement with either of themembers of said and forth, a third member movable back and forth, aclutch member carried by the third member to alternately engage saidpair of members, means tending to move the clutch member to intermediateposition 'out of engagement with said pair of members, electro-magneticmeans :for moving the clutch member in one direction or the other in oneposition of the third member, and means for holding the clutch member inenpalr when they are moved with the third member.

12. A device of the character described, embodying a pair of membersmovable back and-forth and normallyin ene position, a. third' membermovable back and forth a clutch member carried by the third member andmovable alternately into engagement with said pair of members, meanstending to move the clutch member to intermediate position,eleetro-magnets for moving the clutch member in one direction or theother at one osition of the third member, and means or retaining theclutch memberin engagement with either of said pair of members when theyare moved with the third member out of normal position.

13. A device of the character described, embodying a pair of membersmovable back and forth and ynormally in intermediate position, a thirdmember movable back and forth past intermediate position, a slidable 65clutch 'member carried by the thlrd member and movable alternately inengagement with said pair of members, spring means tending to move theclutch member to intermediate position, electro-magnets for .moving theclutch member in one direction or the other whenA` the third membermoves past intermediate position, pairs of rails having their adjacentends spaced apart at intermediate position, said clutch member having apor tion normally movable between the rails and movable toward one sideor the other to slide alon the outer sides of the railsl when tlie clutcmember is moved in one direction or the other from intermediateposition, to hold B0 the clutch member in engagement with thel 1respective lnember -of said pair.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES SHELLENBARGER ALSPAUQH.

Witnesses:

AGNES ROCKELLI, MARY WILLIAMS.

